Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-05
A Delegation from Memphis at the
White HOuse.

The delegation sent from Memphis to invite the
President to visit that city during his Southern
ana western trip this fall called at the White
House to-day, and were received by the President
In his library. They were introduced by senator
Harris, and Judge B. NJ Estes acted as spokesman.
The delegation consisted Of the following gentle
men, five OF whom were colored: Judge B. M.
Estes, w. L. Clapp, j. T. Jefferson, E. l. MCGOWAN,
Horace B. 1. Stevens, F. T. Andrews, Thos. Garvey,
F. D. Seward, R. c. Stevens j. A. Taylor, w. A.
Everman, Lyman Wallace, and T. j. Turner.
JUDGE ESTES REMARKS.
Judge Estes said that he and his associates
without political complexion, were present to eX-
tend to the President Of the United States cor
dial Invitation to visit their city SO earnest
President and Mrs. Cleveland and members of the
Cabinet and their wives should visit their city
that they were unwilling to follow his suggestion
and were constrained to persist in their
original plan OF meeting him In person and
Memphis, he said, lay directly in the Presidents
path from st. Louis and Kansas CITY to Atlanta,
and by going that way he would have the oppor
part OF the Mississippi valley. He assured the
President that the people OF Memphis would ex-
tend most cordial welcome and generous hospi-
tality. During the last decade Memphis had SUI
fered from death and desOation, but the people
had arisen and in little time rebuilt and revived
the heaeny anS prospePeSs ns1 one ol the
South. The people, he said, would deem 1t
great privilege to have the President and Mrs.
Cleveland as their guests. There would be double
good from such a visit. 1t was good for the
President OF great nation to see the people, to
impress upon his MIND his duty TO and dependence
upon them and tor the people to see in the Presi-
dent an object lesson, showing the eminence that
simple American citizenship could attain. In de-
slng hs &c they Were not the speaker
the President OF the United states and
not the man they did honor to. But the 1orce Of
with the IDEA That ne was the exponent OF the In
eStimable blessing OF perfect liberty and good citi-
zenshlp. he referred to the presence OF the COL
Ored delegates and said that In Tennessee there
was no discrimination as to the rights OF citizens
On me part OF the daughters OF the South he ex-
dlal invitation 10 come among them.
THE PRESIDENT REPLIED
that he felt grateful for the invitation, and that
his only regret was that he was not prepared to
say on the instant that he would come and SO
crafty his own desire to go among them. He
said he desired to visit their city, and hoped to be
duties and the Short es limit OF time made it d
4n FOR Ha h to g. e. to all the IS he
his presence before, and had given the
matter thought in arranging his plans.
but he expected in days map out the
gram, and in doing SO he should direct his atten-
ton particularly TO trying to arrange so as to visit
Memphis. He was not without hope OF being able
to do so, but they must be content with very
brief visit-much more brief than his inclinattons
would makeit II possible he would come. He had
thought OF going to st. Louis rst but that seemed
to put difficulty in the way Of the visit to Men,
phis on account OF the time, and the matter would
all have to be considered carefully, and pro-
gram made from which he would not depart.
One OF the delegates suggested that II he could
not stop on his way from SC. Louis to Atlanta he
might make the Memphis visit on his way back.
TO this the President replied that 1t was his desire
to return from Atlanta by way OF the coast The
matter was thus left to be finally settled between
the President and senator Harris,